This
is precisely the logic in having puja rooms in Hindu households. In
the United States and Canada, a new generation of Hindus is growing
up and they need some assistance in learning the methods appropriate
to their own framework so that they can perform pujas in the privacy
of their homes or apartments.
A series of these Puja
booklets, with Sanskrit transliterations and English translations,
are being published to fill this need. These "How to Conduct
…" booklets cover all major Hindu festivals with worships to
the Sun God Soorya (Makarasankranti), Shiva (Shivaratri), Rama (Sriramanavami), Krishna (Janmashtami), Ganapati (Chaturthi), Durga
(Vijayadashami), Saraswati (Vasanth Panchami and Navaratri), and
Mahalakshmi (Diwali).
Each
booklet begins with an introduction that provides the background in
regard to the particular God/Goddess, and includes a step-by-step
procedure to prepare an altar, a list of materials needed,
preliminary prayers, the worship and conclusion.
Thus Hindu youngsters may be able to
plan a whole year of festivities, perform the pujas and build their
own tradition.
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